Kill and Tell: A Novel

About the book

Family secrets and murder converge in this captivating and suspenseful romance from New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard.

Some secrets need to be told...

Still reeling from her mother's recent death, Karen Whitlaw is stunned when she receives a package containing a mysterious notebook from her estranged father, whom she has barely seen since his return from the Vietnam War decades ago. Then, a shocking phone call: Karen's father has been murdered on the gritty streets of New Orleans.

Even if they lead to murder....

For homicide detective Marc Chastain, something about the case of a murdered homeless man just doesn't add up--especially after he meets the victim's daughter. Far from the cold woman he expected, Karen Whitlaw is warm and passionate. She is also in serious danger. A string of "accidents" have shaken Karen to the core, and forced her into the protective embrace of the charming detective she vowed to resist. Together they unravel a disturbing story of politics, power, and murder—and face a killer who will stop at nothing to get his hands on her father's secrets.

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Readers' Reviews

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linkmeister

This book is 290 pages of thin plot wrapped around 10 pages of very graphic sex scenes. The male lead is about as cardboard a character as I've ever run across and the female's not much better.This one went straight into the bookswap pile if anyone's fool enough to want it. Fortunately for me I only paid $2.95 for it.read more

This is the first in a trilogy featuring John Medina (ultimate spy). He doesn't have much play time in this book though as it's centered around yummy Marc, a cop from New Orleans and the withdrawn Karen, nurse from Ohio. Her estranged father winds up murdered in New Orleans and since he was ex-military Marc wants to help Karen find out what happened and also to help her get over her self-protection mode. It gets a bit steamy in places and they do seem to spend a lot of quality bed-time getting to know each other in between dodging people trying to kill Karen for a mysterious book her father sent her right before he was killed. I'm enjoyed this book although it didn't have some of the fun wit that a couple of the other's I've read had. I am looking forward to All the Queen's Men which tells John's story.read more

Karen Whitlaw was abandoned by her father when young, and her mother died recently. When she receives a mysterious box of papers from her father, she packs them away and forgets about them. However her father had given her evidence of a murder and now those who paid for the killing want the evidence back. When her father is killed in New Orleans, detective Marc Chastain gets the case. He gets in contact with Karen who flies down to claim the body and gets Marc's as well!There is one mega hot love scene in this book, but other than that there are so many implausibilities that neither the mystery nor the romance hold up all that well. That Karen and Marc should fall in love and commitment so quickly beggars belief, and the character of the villain is both predictable and not very interesting. This is a reread for me, but not a keeper. I bought this book on impulse and I'll pass it on, but it held your attention while you were there. B-read more

Critics' Reviews

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Publishers Weekly

Bestselling author Howard (Son of the Morning) meshes hot sex, emotional impact and gripping tension in this perfect example of what romantic suspense ought to be. Shortly after her mother's death, nurse Karen Whitlaw receives a package from her long-estranged father and, unable to bring herself to explore it, she packs it away. Unknown to her, the package contains information that could destroy a U.S. senator, who would kill to get it. Six months later, police detective Marc Chastain summons her to New Orleans to identify the body of her murdered father. As the repressed Karen falls for the sexy detective, she finds herself being targeted by killers intent on recovering something she doesn't realize she has. Karen is a strong, likable heroine, and Marc manages the often-tried and rarely accomplished trick of being both tough and vulnerable. Minor characters are believable and fleshed-out, and the narrative is never bogged down by subplots or ill-advised red herrings. Howard, a gifted writer who has not always been in full control of her material, pulls it together in this one. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Bestselling author Howard (Son of the Morning) meshes hot sex, emotional impact and gripping tension in this perfect example of what romantic suspense ought to be. Shortly after her mother's death, nurse Karen Whitlaw receives a package from her long-estranged father and, unable to bring herself to explore it, she packs it away. Unknown to her, the package contains information that could destroy a U.S. senator, who would kill to get it. Six months later, police detective Marc Chastain summons her to New Orleans to identify the body of her murdered father. As the repressed Karen falls for the sexy detective, she finds herself being targeted by killers intent on recovering something she doesn't realize she has. Karen is a strong, likable heroine, and Marc manages the often-tried and rarely accomplished trick of being both tough and vulnerable. Minor characters are believable and fleshed-out, and the narrative is never bogged down by subplots or ill-advised red herrings. Howard, a gifted writer who has not always been in full control of her material, pulls it together in this one. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Bestselling author Howard (Son of the Morning) meshes hot sex, emotional impact and gripping tension in this perfect example of what romantic suspense ought to be. Shortly after her mother's death, nurse Karen Whitlaw receives a package from her long-estranged father and, unable to bring herself to explore it, she packs it away. Unknown to her, the package contains information that could destroy a U.S. senator, who would kill to get it. Six months later, police detective Marc Chastain summons her to New Orleans to identify the body of her murdered father. As the repressed Karen falls for the sexy detective, she finds herself being targeted by killers intent on recovering something she doesn't realize she has. Karen is a strong, likable heroine, and Marc manages the often-tried and rarely accomplished trick of being both tough and vulnerable. Minor characters are believable and fleshed-out, and the narrative is never bogged down by subplots or ill-advised red herrings. Howard, a gifted writer who has not always been in full control of her material, pulls it together in this one. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved